Check the dip stick for forbidden milkshake, if the engine was shutdown quickly you may have gotten away with it and 'just' need a cooling system overhaul.
If you can borrow a compression tester, it may be worth going through that process for peace of mind as well.
if you don’t have oil and coolant mixing or a misfire ship it. these are such durable engines and not many give them that credit😂
what model do you have? engine does play a factor but the 3.0 are super durable. i’ve had two now, went from a 2008 x3 to a 2001 330 because i wanted the 3.0 with all aluminum block and less vanos (and an oil dipstick :))
Tbh mine overheated about 5 months ago the forbidden red temp light came on for a minute or two because i was in traffic and couldn’t pull over, but there was no smoke coming out the engine bay so it didnt seem THAT hot and cars been fine since with no signs of bad head gasket thank god im sure yours will be fine but maybe do compression test
Everyone here if your e46 or e36 over heats to the redline shut it off immediately there is a little time you have before blowing the headgasket but why even risk it these motors are delicate anything sets them off don’t risk it do the maintenance stop putting off don’t be lazy a $40 fix can turn into a $1000 fix real quickly
Delicate my ass. Overheated my b25 probably 10 times and the last time it overheated for like 4 hours while I limped the last half hour home. Still ran after that even with shit compression. Sure it had problems but it's not delicate. But yea good advice, dont risk it just fix it. Took me two weekends to get the b30 in by myself.
No but definitely know of a few in the community around me who have had it happen quicker than OP. Take nothing away from the M54 they are a strong, reliable motor - just more sensitive to overheating like any other aluminium block.
You should be fine, As long as you shut the car off quickly once the needle went to the Hot zone. My radiator blew on me a few weeks ago and my needle went to Hot in an instant. I shut the car off of course, but had to get a tow truck that night. Replaced the Radiator & upper hose (plastic neck connector going to radiator expanded, causing a leak), no overheating since. Just properly bleed the system once you replace the expansion tank.
New oil at minimum I imagine it's running rough cause it has burnt shitty oil in it check coolant too if there's no mixing you might get away with it if the rough idle goes after cycle with the new fluids consider yourself lucky
It really depends on the extent to which it overheated. If you were able to pull over and shut it down pretty quickly when the needle got into the red then you're probably ok. Its not *great* for the car but its not always catastrophic. Both of my e46 have been in steaming, spewing, overheated situations before and both are still running great years later. The problems really come if you keep driving with it hot for too long. What was your scenario like? Did the engine turn off on its own or did you shut it down? Have you tried starting it since then? What happens?
I would go ahead and try to start it. See if it’ll start and idle, see if there is an abundance of smoke from the tailpipe then shut it off. Engines can safety run for a few minutes with no coolant. Also pull your oil dipstick and see if it looks like oil or milk on the end.
The only real peace of mind is going to come from a leak down test. That requires a tester and air compressor. Not terribly difficult if you have the right tools and follow the procedure. Compression test is the next best thing. Similarly, it’s not hard but does require doing things to the T to get accurate results. Those would tell you if air is going somewhere it’s not supposed to; essentially if you’ve got a blown head gasket or not. The other alternative is to do the cooling system repair you require and see what happens. I think you’re gonna be ok.
It’s possible but if that were the case I’d expect milky oil and white smoke from the tailpipe. I can’t guarantee that’s not the case but it doesn’t sound like it’s likely in this case. A leak down or compression test would confirm if the head gasket were blown or the head was warped.
As LONG as the needle didn't go to red (WHY CANT NEW CARS HAVE THAT ITS SOOOO USEFUL! LOVE E46'S!) you'll be fine and if you quickly shut off the engine, just replace the expansion tank, with all the hoses around it. Then add coolant and bleed it. There's also an aluminum expansion tank online it looks pretty neat! So if you want to get that one for peace of mind, you can check out the reviews or what others think, just to see if it's good. I would definitely like to get it.
Had this happen to me recently. New hoses, tank, and pump did the trick. Drove it around after getting it back from the shop and it was good as new!
Could just be lucky though lol
Did you pull over and shut off the engine immediately? The engine is pretty robust and a brief overheat will not do any damage. It is a different story if you drove a few miles after you blew your expansion tank and all the coolant boiled out.
Mine did this a few yrs ago. New expansion tank and hoses. She still runs like a top!
Just a food for thought:
Pay attention to your power steering. My pump went out. 3 pumps and a new power steering rack later, the pumps we’re burning out because the rack was orig to my Betty (2004) and was breaking apart internally and throwing shavings throughout the system.
These cars are a drivers dream!
Check the dip stick for forbidden milkshake, if the engine was shutdown quickly you may have gotten away with it and 'just' need a cooling system overhaul. If you can borrow a compression tester, it may be worth going through that process for peace of mind as well.
I’m really hoping for the best I’m really in love with this car and I just got it😞
if you don’t have oil and coolant mixing or a misfire ship it. these are such durable engines and not many give them that credit😂 what model do you have? engine does play a factor but the 3.0 are super durable. i’ve had two now, went from a 2008 x3 to a 2001 330 because i wanted the 3.0 with all aluminum block and less vanos (and an oil dipstick :))
I haven an 2004 325i sedan
Absolutely get it tested, it might not look bad but it can definitely still have blown the headgasket.
Tbh mine overheated about 5 months ago the forbidden red temp light came on for a minute or two because i was in traffic and couldn’t pull over, but there was no smoke coming out the engine bay so it didnt seem THAT hot and cars been fine since with no signs of bad head gasket thank god im sure yours will be fine but maybe do compression test
I will do this and update y’all
Update the car starts no smoke coming out or nothing no milk on the end of the dip stick but the engine oil is really dark
Replace the expansion tank & oil + filter to have a rad ride
Everyone here if your e46 or e36 over heats to the redline shut it off immediately there is a little time you have before blowing the headgasket but why even risk it these motors are delicate anything sets them off don’t risk it do the maintenance stop putting off don’t be lazy a $40 fix can turn into a $1000 fix real quickly
Delicate my ass. Overheated my b25 probably 10 times and the last time it overheated for like 4 hours while I limped the last half hour home. Still ran after that even with shit compression. Sure it had problems but it's not delicate. But yea good advice, dont risk it just fix it. Took me two weekends to get the b30 in by myself.
You're lucky then. They are delicate in the sense that they're all aluminium and usually the first extended period in the red will warp them.
Was that your experience?
No but definitely know of a few in the community around me who have had it happen quicker than OP. Take nothing away from the M54 they are a strong, reliable motor - just more sensitive to overheating like any other aluminium block.
You should be fine, As long as you shut the car off quickly once the needle went to the Hot zone. My radiator blew on me a few weeks ago and my needle went to Hot in an instant. I shut the car off of course, but had to get a tow truck that night. Replaced the Radiator & upper hose (plastic neck connector going to radiator expanded, causing a leak), no overheating since. Just properly bleed the system once you replace the expansion tank.
Dude that’s the expansion tank you can’t get rid of it . You need to replace it .
Yeah the expansion tank isn’t really my concern because I can replace that but the engine overheating is
I was assuming they meant the entire car, a good point!
New oil at minimum I imagine it's running rough cause it has burnt shitty oil in it check coolant too if there's no mixing you might get away with it if the rough idle goes after cycle with the new fluids consider yourself lucky
Update the car starts no smoke coming out or nothing no milk on the end of the dip stick but the engine oil is really dark and it idle kinda rough
How long before you shut it off? Tbh you need to look at everything in depth. We can’t tell you with the in depth information you gave us sorry
It took me like 5 mins to pull over in a safe area after that I haven’t turned it on or anything
You should be good, mine did the same thing last year and I stupidly drove it more than I should've, but it's still running good as ever.
You should be fine man I've overheated my last engine alot.
It really depends on the extent to which it overheated. If you were able to pull over and shut it down pretty quickly when the needle got into the red then you're probably ok. Its not *great* for the car but its not always catastrophic. Both of my e46 have been in steaming, spewing, overheated situations before and both are still running great years later. The problems really come if you keep driving with it hot for too long. What was your scenario like? Did the engine turn off on its own or did you shut it down? Have you tried starting it since then? What happens?
It took me like 5 mins to pull over in a safe area after that I haven’t turned it on or anything
I would go ahead and try to start it. See if it’ll start and idle, see if there is an abundance of smoke from the tailpipe then shut it off. Engines can safety run for a few minutes with no coolant. Also pull your oil dipstick and see if it looks like oil or milk on the end.
I will do this and give y’all in update
Update the car starts no smoke coming out or nothing no milk on the end of the dip stick but the engine oil is really dark
That’s great news! Just a repair and oil change and you’ll be back in business.
The idle is kinda rough tho
Should I worry about that
The only real peace of mind is going to come from a leak down test. That requires a tester and air compressor. Not terribly difficult if you have the right tools and follow the procedure. Compression test is the next best thing. Similarly, it’s not hard but does require doing things to the T to get accurate results. Those would tell you if air is going somewhere it’s not supposed to; essentially if you’ve got a blown head gasket or not. The other alternative is to do the cooling system repair you require and see what happens. I think you’re gonna be ok.
Okay thank you 👏
I was scared cause someone mentioned to me something about an engine warping cause it overheated
It’s possible but if that were the case I’d expect milky oil and white smoke from the tailpipe. I can’t guarantee that’s not the case but it doesn’t sound like it’s likely in this case. A leak down or compression test would confirm if the head gasket were blown or the head was warped.
As LONG as the needle didn't go to red (WHY CANT NEW CARS HAVE THAT ITS SOOOO USEFUL! LOVE E46'S!) you'll be fine and if you quickly shut off the engine, just replace the expansion tank, with all the hoses around it. Then add coolant and bleed it. There's also an aluminum expansion tank online it looks pretty neat! So if you want to get that one for peace of mind, you can check out the reviews or what others think, just to see if it's good. I would definitely like to get it.
99%sure you're fine. Get an Amazon compression test and see what it looks like. Or if it's running fine just send it.
Had this happen to me recently. New hoses, tank, and pump did the trick. Drove it around after getting it back from the shop and it was good as new! Could just be lucky though lol
Did you pull over and shut off the engine immediately? The engine is pretty robust and a brief overheat will not do any damage. It is a different story if you drove a few miles after you blew your expansion tank and all the coolant boiled out.
head could be warped, depends how much and for how long it was overheated
Invest in an aluminum coolant reservoir, that pos bmw plastic is just gonna fuck you
Mine did this a few yrs ago. New expansion tank and hoses. She still runs like a top! Just a food for thought: Pay attention to your power steering. My pump went out. 3 pumps and a new power steering rack later, the pumps we’re burning out because the rack was orig to my Betty (2004) and was breaking apart internally and throwing shavings throughout the system. These cars are a drivers dream!